Autopsy: Driver died at own hand, not officer's

He was found dead in SUV after he fired on police

Published 5:30 am, Saturday, August 13, 2005

The Harris County Medical Examiner's Office has determined that a 52-year-old man took his own life after he fired several shots at a Houston police officer earlier this week.

Ronald Charles Newman died of a single gunshot to the head in an apparent suicide, a coroner's investigator said of the preliminary ruling.

Newman stopped his Chevrolet Suburban just as officer H.M. Wagner Jr. was about to pull him over for outstanding traffic warrants at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the 3700 block of Noah in southeast Houston. As the three-year veteran approached the vehicle, Newman opened the door, brandished a gun and fired at the officer, police said.

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The officer returned fire and Newman drove off. Wagner followed in his patrol car, and Newman fired on the officer as both were driving, police said.

Newman stopped in the 7200 block of La Salette. Police said he got out of his vehicle and fired on the officer again, then got back into his Suburban after the officer returned fire. Newman fired another shot as he sat inside the vehicle, police said, and officers discovered moments later that he had been shot in the head.

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As is customary in officer-involved shootings, the incident is being investigated by HPD's homicide and Internal Affairs divisions, as well as the District Attorney's Office, police said.